James Brooks must surrender in Camden Monday on racketeering indictment

Glynn County deputy sheriffs escort Sabrina Elkins, 19, into Magistrate Court. She and her mother Karimah, 36, had an initial appearance on charges of tampering with evidence and possession of a handgun.

BRUNSWICK, GA. — City Commissioner James Henry Brooks Sr. was freed on bail Friday morning after spending the night in jail on charges of obstructing an officer and interfering with a witness in the shooting death of a 13-month-old boy.

Brooks surrendered to officers Friday, four days after an incident in a courthouse parking lot with a Glynn County police officer investigating the death of Antonio Angel Santiago and the wounding of his mother March 21 as she was pushing the tot in a stroller on a city street.

Glynn County Magistrate Tim Barton signed a bail order with its conditions Friday.

It may be other charges, however, that may affect Brooks standing as a city commissioner.

A Camden County grand jury indicted Brooks on Thursday on charges of racketeering, taking money to influence police hires and permit and liquor licenses applications and with violating his oath of office.

Brooks is accused of taking $300 from a man in Camden County who had applied to be a Brunswick police officer.

Under Georgia law, the district attorney will forward the indictment to Gov. Nathan Deal, who will appoint a panel that includes the attorney general and elected officials to review the charges and recommend whether Brooks should be removed. Deal will then decide whether Brooks is to remain in office.

Brooks was originally charged by warrant in February 2012, but the formal charges of an indictment are required for removal from office.

Brooks issued a statement apologizing for his interference with the investigation.

“He, along with several others in the community, had been duped by Karimah Elkins and Sabrina Elkins into believing their alibi story for Mr. De’Marquise Elkins,” said Alan David Tucker, Brooks’ attorney.

De’Marquise Elkins, 17, is charged with murder and other charges in the case along 15-year-old Dominique Lang. Karimah Elkins, 36, is Elkins’ mother, and Sabrina Elkins, 19, is his sister.

They were both charged with tampering with evidence after officers found a .22-caliber pistol in a saltwater pond north of Brunswick. They are in jail; no bail has been set.

Her mother already was indicted for possession of a firearm by a felon and both were indicted for evidence tampering after investigators found a .22-caliber revolver in a saltwater pond.

Karimah Elkins attended her son’s initial appearance Monday. When she left the courthouse, a Glynn County detective approached her but officials said Brooks stepped between them and instructed her not to talk with the officer.

The statement provided by Tucker says Brooks believed he was trying to protect the rights of his constituents by advising them to remain silent and to not make any additional statements to police without a lawyer present.

“He’d been duped like other people in this community,’’ Tucker said.

Asked why Brooks inserted himself into a situation involving someone he knew to be a police officer, Tucker said, “I don’t know why he spoke to the Elkins family other than they are constituents of his ... It wasn’t his intent to embarrass this community.”

In addition to bail, Brooks’ release comes with a lot of conditions including that he surrender to the Camden County sheriff by noon Monday.

He is also forbidden from contacting witnesses or investigators in the Antonio Santiago case, entering any Brunswick Police Department office except for official business and giving legal advise to anyone in the investigation.

His absence would leave a good portion of city residents without representation on the City Commission, Tucker said.

“He would stay in jail rather than agree to leave Brunswick,’’ Tucker said.

He will, however, be free through the weekend.

“He can attend church and spend Easter with his family,’’ Tucker said.